Tasawuf

On Monday 10 December 2012, a few mureeds from Kzn travelled to Johannesburg to visit Sheikh Mol Ibrahim Mia (Damat Barakatuhu). Sheikh was recently diagnosed with cancer and has just started chemotherapy. (Readers are humbly requested to make dua for shifa).

On this visit the mureeds observed a few things which they would like to share with the readers.

Firstly, upon arrival, Hazrat took the trouble of warmly welcoming the mureeds and offered them breakfast/tea. Hazrat also enquired as to our plans so that meals & sleeping arrangements could be made. This was very much in keeping with the habit of Hazrat Sheikh Zakariyya (rahmatullah alayhi) who took great pains to see to the comfort of guests.

Despite the great pain Hazrat was experiencing, Hazrat was at peace with his condition and expressed that he was happy with whatever condition Allah placed him in.

After a short while, Hazrat asked us to excuse him as he needed to get ready to conduct a majlis for the ladies. Hazrat always emphasises the importance of being punctual and consistent in one's mamools. By practical demonstration, Hazrat showed us that his commitment to conduct the majlis despite his pain was unwavering. In fact, Hazrat has been consistent in conducting the ladies majlis every Monday for over 30 years, holiday or not.

Hazrat often says that Hazrat Sheikh Zakariyya (rahmatullah alayhi) used to say, "Punctuality & consistency in one's mamools is the stepping stone to success."

May Allah grant us the ability to practise upon Hazrat's teachings and grant Hazrat complete shifa.

Sheikh Moulana Ibrahim Mia (Damat Barakatu) has for many years ALWAYS started his naseehat/talks with him asking all present to correct their intention that they are sitting in the majlis for the pleasure of Allah. Sheikh goes on to add additional good intentions so that more rewards can be attained.

The effect of this "training" by Sheikh was to prove useful to a particular mureed who narrates his story.

He says that once he had gone shopping and when he parked his car he made an intention to give the car guard R5.00 sadaqah. After entering the shop, he realised that the shop didn't have what he was looking for, so what was supposed to be a 30min job, finished much, much quicker.

When he returned to his car, he pulled out R2.00 to give to the car guard since he had been in the shop for a very short while. Then the "intention training" hit him!

Was he giving sadaqah or paying the guard based on time spent guarding? Realising his error, he quickly changed the R2.00 to R5.00, corrected his intention and handed it over to the guard.

Lesson: Make your intention at the beginning of every action, but also take time to check and correct your intention along the way.

Advice No. 1

There are four requirements that a Saalik (Devotee) needs to observe in order to progress spiritually. Two should be considered before Bay’at and two should be observed after Bay’at. These requirements are necessary at all times. The two aspects to be considered before Bay’at are:

I’TIQAAD (firm conviction) and

I’TIMAAD (complete reliance).

If the Saalik has no conviction in the Sheikh, then he will never benefit from the Sheikh. A Saalik should have the full conviction that the teachings and instructions of his Sheikh are the most beneficial for him. This is what is meant by the belief: 'My Sheikh is the most perfect for me.'

The second aspect is I’timaad (reliance) and it is extremely necessary. If there is no reliance in the Sheikh's teachings or advice, a Saalik will always be in a state of agitation.

The two requirements to be observed after Bay’at are extremely necessary for continued progress. They are: 1. ITTILAA’ (communication) and 2. ITTIBAA’ (obedience).

Those who are in need of Suhbat-e-Sheikh (the company of the Sheikh), will find that it is better for them to stay in the company of their Sheikh than to perform Nawaafil, etc. They may remain silent in his company or be engaged in recitation. Special precaution should be taken that they listen very attentively whenever he speaks. [Ashraful-Uloom, pg. 21]

Advice No. 7

A Mureed should entrust himself into the hands of his Sheikh - like a corpse in the hands of the person who is giving him ghusl. In whichever direction he desires to turn the body, he turns it and the corpse does not object. A Mureed should behave in the same manner. He should annihilate all his personal desires, thoughts and opinions and act in accordance with the instructions of his Sheikh. If the Sheikh wakes you then awake. If he allows you to sleep then continue sleeping. If you are instructed to perform Nafl Salaah, perform it and if he forbids you anything, then refrain from it. All his commands are to be obeyed - except those instructions which are contrary to the Shari'ah. [Ar-Rafl Waazih, pg. 41]

A Saalik (devotee) should have no desire to achieve anything whatsoever. Some have a desire to obtain joy and pleasure from their devotions. Others desire that their hearts reach a state of ecstasy, while some aim towards Kashf (knowledge of the unseen) or Karaamaat (supernatural powers). Some desire Jannah and aim towards it. One should not have the slightest desire or aim (for anything except the Pleasure of Allah Ta'ala). [Ashraful-Uloom, pg. 18]

Advice No. 3

The meaning of ‘Abdiyyat (servitude) is to bow one's head in front of the Master. Whatever His commands may be, it should be accepted whole-heartedly and practised upon. When one becomes an "Abd" (servant), then to desire or seek (anything), is in reality a demand upon the Master. How can this be permissible? If someone doubts this and says that it appears in the Hadith: "O Allah Ta'ala, I seek from You, Your Pleasure and Jannah."

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99 INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF HAZRAT SHEIKHMOULANA IBRAHIM MIA رحمة لله علیھ Hazrat Sheikh Moulana Ibrahim Mia رحمة لله علیھ , khalifa of Hazrat SheikhZakariyya Khandelvi رحمة لله علیھ dedicated his life to the desire of his Sheikh,i.e. the establishment of the Majaalis of Zikr. To this end, Hazrat travelledextensively and spread the nur of zikrullah and inspired many people tochange their lives.

This book is a collection of interesting anecdotes and lessons as experiencedand narrated by Hazrat’s mureedeen.